Article 28: Qi and Blood Determine Body Shape – Causes of Qi and Blood Deficiency and Dietary Therapy

Qi and blood determine body shape

"A single glance back, a smile, and a hundred charms bloom; the beauties of the six palaces pale in comparison." This is a line from the poem "Song of Everlasting Regret" by the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi. The poem's protagonist, Yang Yuhuan, is a beauty depicted by countless writers and poets. However, this imperial concubine, possessing unparalleled beauty, was "plump and beautiful," and because of her beauty, the entire Tang Dynasty regarded "plumpness" as beauty. Perhaps many women today wish they could travel back to the Tang Dynasty.

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, Yang Guifei likely had a Qi deficiency constitution. Her "round and plump" figure has a specific term: "a person of privilege," referring to someone who lives a life of ease and comfort, lacks physical labor, is intolerant of heat and cold, and is therefore very delicate. Obesity in this type of person is Qi deficiency-related obesity.

We often hear people complain that they "gain weight even from drinking water." The reason these people are overweight is because they have a deficiency of Qi (vital energy). Qi circulates continuously within the body; this circulation process is called Qi transformation, and the body's digestion and absorption of food is accomplished through Qi transformation. After a meal, the stomach Qi digests the food, while the spleen Qi transmits the most refined energy from digestion to the liver, where it is transformed into blood and then transported to the heart. Meanwhile, waste products are transmitted downwards to the large intestine, where they are transformed into feces and excreted.

So, how does Qi deficiency develop?

• Long-term dieting leads to malnutrition.

• They enjoy eating cold, greasy, and rich foods.

• Overwork of the mind and prolonged excessive mental exertion (excessive mental exertion damages the heart and mind, and excessive thinking damages the spleen).

• Physical exhaustion, having previously worked as a manual laborer or a professional athlete.

• Feeling depressed and unhappy, especially when angry while eating.

• Serious or prolonged illnesses severely deplete one's vital energy.

In other words, people with Qi deficiency should pay attention to the following points:

Eat more foods that are neutral or slightly warm in nature, have nourishing effects, and are easy to digest, and develop good eating habits.

• Drink water in small sips, drink it warm, and avoid drinking large amounts at once.

• Eat slowly and chew thoroughly, and only eat until you are about 70% full.

• Avoid overexertion and choose gentle aerobic exercises such as jogging, yoga, hiking, or walking.

• Remain calm and composed in the face of adversity, avoid overthinking, and maintain a positive attitude.

People are thin because of blood deficiency. Blood deficiency leads to excessive internal heat. When a thin person has too much Qi (vital energy) in their body, far exceeding the normal range, it's like a wheel that normally rotates 60 times per minute. But with too much Qi and too much power, the wheel rotates 120 times per minute, not only vaporizing what should be vaporized but also what shouldn't be vaporized. Generally, thin people will exhibit a pathologically hyperactive metabolism.

Therefore, whether you're trying to lose or gain weight, nourishing your Qi and blood is crucial. Replenishing your Qi and blood allows your body's detoxification and cleansing processes to kick in automatically, breaking down excess solid waste, namely fat, and expelling it from the body, thus achieving your weight loss goals.

We often hear about achieving a slim figure through diet, which is actually a method of weight loss by regulating qi and blood. Chinese food culture has a long history, but the truth is, while we are very particular about what we eat, we rarely eat correctly. Eating until you're full or enjoying delicious food is not as important as eating healthily. Below, we'll discuss how to eat in a way that both regulates qi and blood and achieves weight loss.

Eat more millet, pork stomach, carrots, and shiitake mushrooms, as these are all foods that replenish qi, which can help boost your metabolism and help you lose weight faster.

• Use Codonopsis pilosula (Dang Shen) in soups as a dietary therapy to replenish Qi. Because Codonopsis pilosula is sweet and neutral in nature, it can replenish Qi, strengthen the spleen and benefit the lungs, and can be used for people who are tired, weak, short of breath, or obese due to Qi deficiency.

While the diet should be low in oil, salt, and sugar, adequate protein intake should still be maintained.

• Eat less pasta to avoid affecting your body's metabolic cycle.

• Eat less sweets, as sweets can affect the function of the spleen and stomach, thereby inhibiting the excretion of heat from the body.

If you want to lose weight, you must quit smoking and drinking. If you can't quit completely, you should at least reduce your intake significantly.

A truly healthy and attractive person should have a well-proportioned figure-neither too fat nor too thin-so there's no need to excessively pursue thinness. When you establish regular sleep patterns, lifestyle habits, and dietary habits, your body will naturally lose weight. In fact, true weight loss isn't a goal-oriented process, but rather a natural result of using your body correctly.